by Doctor Science
I don’t seem to have talked about it here before, but last year (5779) I leveled up significantly in my Jewish practice by reading the Torah portion (Parsha) every week, and discussing it on Twitter under the #ParshaChat hashtag (usually on Wednesday evenings, though it was on Thursday last week).
Last week’s parsha was Vayeira (Genesis 18:1 – 22:24) , which includes the destruction of Sodom. In thinking about Vayeira last year, I realized that there’s an interpretation in which everyone’s behavior makes a lot more sense and is more relatable than in the interpretations that have been standard for, um, well, thousands of years. Despite the incredible weight of tradition that’s against me, I kind of think I’m right:
The men of Sodom are asking for ID, and Lot replies with a sarcastic pun. Nothing in this is actually about sex, it’s about immigration, about how you treat outsiders.
Note: the following includes discussions of rape, abuse, and homophobia. Take care of yourself.
